Dual ball launching and retrieving toy

ABSTRACT

A toy ball launching and retrieving device adapted to hold two balls at one time so that both balls can be launched consecutively from the device and so that each ball can be separately retrieved by said device comprising a handle having a ball engaging and releasing member at each opposite end thereof for separately launching and retrieving each of the two balls with each ball engaging and releasing member comprising a plurality of at least four relatively flexible fingers symmetrically arranged relative to a common base with each finger having a free end and a curvature forming a radial arc in substantial radial alignment with the curvature of a finger disposed opposite thereto such that the curvature of the fingers and common base form a partial spherical space for retaining and releasing a ball and with the spherical space substantially conforming to the geometry of the ball.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a toy ball launching and retrieving deviceadapted for launching two balls consecutively from the device and toindependently retrieve each ball using the device without touching theball.

BACKGROUND ART

It is well known that animals, particularly dogs, enjoy playing the gameof fetch and, in fact, playing this game provides a dog with neededhealthy exercise. However, in playing the game, it is not desirable orrecommended to pick up a ball using one's hand when the ball is coveredwith dog saliva. There are many commercially available toy dog launchingdevices which will permit a ball to be launched from the device, withsome of the devices also including ball engaging means to pick up a ballafter the ball is retrieved by a dog. In general, most such devicesemploy a long pole having some type of ball launching means at one endthereof and ball engaging means which may be independent from thelaunching means. In all of such device, retrieval of the ball isdifficult and the amount of time expended in picking up the ball afterit is retrieved by a dog unnecessarily requires substantial time toelapse before another ball can be launched. This loss in time iswasteful and can be disrupting to the game.

A device has been discovered in accordance with the present inventionthat permits two balls to be thrown consecutively such that after oneball is launched, another may be launched without first reinserting theball into the device after the ball is retrieved by the dog. Thispermits one ball which has been retrieved by a dog to be replaced withinthe device during the interval of time when the dog is chasing afteranother launched ball, thereby providing continuous play and/orproviding greater control over playing the game. In addition, the deviceof the present invention lends itself to being able to play the gamesimultaneously with two dogs. Moreover, the device of the presentinvention permits both balls to be launched consecutively using with thelaunching of one ball not affecting retention of the other ball in thedevice. The device of the present invention is also believed to exertminimal strain on the arm of the person launching the ball even afterrepeated use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a pet toy ball launching andretrieving device adapted to retain two balls at one time in the devicein a manner permitting both balls to be thrown consecutively from thedevice and permitting each ball to be retrieved by the deviceindependent of the launching operation without touching the ball. Theball launching and retrieving device of the present invention comprisesa handle having a ball engaging and releasing member at each oppositeend thereof for separately launching and retrieving each of the twoballs with each ball engaging and retrieving member comprising aplurality of at least four relatively flexible fingers extending from acommon base with the fingers being symmetrically arranged relative tothe common base and with each finger having a free end and a curvatureforming a radial arc such that the curvature of the fingers forms apartial sphere for retaining and releasing a ball therefrom with thegeometry of the partial sphere substantially conforming to the geometryof the ball to be launched. The two ball engaging and releasing memberspermit each ball to be thrown from the device without affecting theretention of the other ball within the device. It is preferred to use aneven number of fingers with each pair in an opposed relationship suchthat the radial arc formed by one finger is in substantial radialalignment with the radial arc formed by a finger disposed oppositethereto. If an odd number of fingers are used, at least four shouldpreferably have opposing fingers in substantial radial alignment.

In the preferred embodiment of the device, the fingers are relativelyflexible and are composed of a composition such as vinyl, with thelength of the fingers preferably graduated in size such that the fingerswhich lie in substantial radial alignment form a pair of fingers havingone finger of relatively long length and another finger of relativelyshort length.

The handle of the device is preferably a hollow member composed ofplastic. In one embodiment of the device, the handle is a single memberaligned in a straight line (hereafter “straight member”) and in anotherembodiment the handle comprises three sections having one curved sectionand two straight sections disposed on opposite sides of the curvedsection. Both embodiments permit a ball to be launched from either endof the device in the same manner using the same hand by simply changingthe orientation and grip position of the hand on the handle. Thecomposition of the fingers and handle is preferably of vinyl. Thefingers should be symmetrically arranged around a common base which ispreferably curved to better grip the ball at each end for launch andretrieval.

In the preferred arrangement of the device each ball engaging andreleasing member comprises six symmetrically arranged fingers extendingfrom a common base having a curvature compatible with the curvature ofthe fingers so that a partial spherical space is formed by the curvedfingers and curved base which substantially conforms to the geometry ofa ball to be launched and/or retrieved from the device. In the preferredarrangement the fingers and common base in the ball engaging andreleasing member are curved to cause a ball to make contact with thesurface of the common base when the ball is being retained therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dual ball launching and retrievingtoy of the present invention showing a ball engaging and releasingmember at each opposite end of the device for independently retrievingand launching a ball shown in dotted lines in each ball engaging andretrieving member;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the same dual ball launching andretrieving toy as shown in FIG. 1 oriented in horizontal alignmentrelative to a horizontal plane through the drawing and rotatedapproximately 90° from the position shown in FIG. 1 without a ballpresent at either end of the device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the dual balllaunching and retrieving toy of the present invention having a handlelocated between two ball engaging and releasing members at opposite endsof the device with each ball engaging and releasing member holding aball, shown in dotted lines, and with the handle having a curved centersection and two straight sections extending between the center sectionand each ball engaging and retrieving member, respectively;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the same dual ball launching andretrieving toy as shown in FIG. 3 without a ball present at either endof the device and with the device oriented from the position of FIG. 3and with each straight section of the handle shown lying in parallelalignment with respect to one another;

FIG. 5 is a end view in elevation of the dual ball launching andretrieving toy shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view in cross section of the dual ball launching andretrieving toy of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the dual ball launching and retrieving toyof FIG. 4 showing the handle and each ball engaging and releasing memberrepresented as three separate parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The dual ball launching and retrieving toy device of the presentinvention is represented by reference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1-7 inclusive,with FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponding to a first embodiment of the presentinvention and FIGS. 3-7 corresponding to a second embodiment of thepresent invention. The first embodiment of the device 10 broadlycomprises a straight handle 12 connected to a ball engaging andreleasing member 14 and 14′ at each opposite end thereof. The secondembodiment of the present invention comprises a handle 15 having acenter section 16 of a curved geometry and two straight sections 17 and18 respectively with each of the straight sections 17 and 18 connectedbetween the center section 16 and a ball engaging and releasing member14 and 14′, respectively. The same reference numbers are being used toidentify corresponding components in each embodiment of the invention.

Each ball engaging and retrieving member 14 and 14′ at each opposite endof the device 10 is essentially identical to one another with eachcomprising a plurality of relatively flexible fingers 20 extending froma neck section 19 and 21, respectively, and with each neck section 19and 21 being preferably of a cylindrical geometry. At least fourrelatively flexible fingers are required but six fingers is preferred.The six fingers in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7 are identified byseparate reference numbers 22-27 and extend from a curved base portion30 in each neck section 19 and 21. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2the handle 12 is shown connected between each neck section 19 and 21 andin the embodiment of FIGS. 3-7 the straight section 17 of handle 15 isconnected to the neck section 19 and the other straight section 18 isconnected to the neck section 21. It is also preferable that the twostraight sections 17 and 18 of the handle 15 be aligned in parallelrelative to one another. The parallel alignment of the two straightsections 17 and 18 is achieved by the curvature of the center section16.

Each of the six fingers 22-27 in each ball engaging and retrievingmember 14 and 14′ has a curved geometry and a free end and forms aradial arc extending from the curved base portion 30. The radial arcshould be in substantial radial alignment with the curvature of a fingerdisposed opposite thereto and preferably of a curvature compatible withthe curvature of the base portion 30 so as to form a partial sphericalspace conforming in geometry to the geometry of a ball 28 adapted to beheld in each ball engaging and retrieving member 14 and 14′respectively. In the preferred arrangement the ball 28 makes physicalcontact with the surface of the curved base portion 30 when residing inthe grip of the fingers 22-27. The plurality of fingers 22-27 should besymmetrically arranged about the curved base portion 30.

The length of the fingers 22-27 are preferably graduated in size withone finger 26 having the shortest length and another finger 23 on theopposite side thereof having the longest length. The two fingers 22 and24 which lie on opposed sides adjacent to the longest finger 23 aresubstantially equal in length and the two fingers 25 and 27 which lie onopposite sides adjacent the shortest finger 26 are substantially of thesame length. Each of the two fingers 25 and 27 which lie on oppositesides adjacent the shortest finger 26 may be aligned askew to the axisof the shortest finger 26 to better grip the ball 28. In such case thetwo fingers 25 and 27 may extend along axes which intersect the axis ofthe shortest finger 26 and form a “V” relative thereto.

Each ball engaging and releasing member 14 and 14′ is preferably moldedas a separate part and is preferably composed of a plastic materialcomposition such as nylon. The fingers 22-27 should be relativelyflexible for gripping and releasing the ball 25 from either opposite endof the device 10.

Each handle 12 and 15 is preferably hollow and is also preferablycomposed of a plastic composition such as vinyl. Handle 15 as shown inFIGS. 3-7 may be separately molded and is attached to each neck section19 and 21 of each ball engaging and releasing member 14 and 14′ as isshown in FIG. 7. The ball engaging member 14 and 14′ is preferablyoriented in an opposing relationship relative to one another at eachopposite end of the device 10 with the fingers in each ball engaging andreleasing member 14 and 14′ oriented 180° apart from one another. Thispermits the device 10 to launch one ball 28 from either opposite end ofthe device 10 without affecting the retention of the other ball 28 atthe opposite end of the device 10. This arrangement also simplifies thereversal of the position of the handle 12 to launch a ball from theopposite end. In each embodiment the ball 28 when launched from a ballengaging and releasing member 14 and 14′ lies above the grip position ofa hand on the handle. In the second embodiment the hand grip on onestraight section, e.g., section 17 of the handle 15 must be reversedwhen gripping the other straight section, e.g., 18 for launching a ball28 from the opposite side. However, it is not critical for the ballengaging members 14 and 14′ to be in an opposing relationship relativeto each other. It is the arrangement of the fingers 22-27 in each ballengaging member 14 and 14′ which permits each ball to be launched fromeither end under similar conditions. This arrangement is enhanced whenthe ball engaging members 14 and 14′ are in an opposing relationship.

1. A toy ball launching and retrieving device adapted to hold two ballsat one time so that both balls can be launched consecutively from thedevice and for separately retrieving each ball without using the handsto touch either ball comprising a handle having a ball engaging andreleasing member at each opposite end thereof for separately launchingand retrieving each of the two balls with each ball engaging andreleasing member comprising at least four relatively flexible fingersextending from a common base in a symmetrical arrangement relative tothe base and with each finger having a free end and a curvature forminga radial arc such that the curvature of the fingers and said common baseform a partial spherical space for retaining and releasing a balltherein and with the geometry of the partial spherical spacesubstantially conforming to the geometry of the ball being launched orheld by said device.
 2. A toy ball launching and retrieving device asdefined in claim 1 wherein the number of fingers is in a range ofbetween 4-8 fingers.
 3. A toy ball launching and retrieving device asdefined in claim 2 wherein said ball engaging and releasing membersinclude an even number of fingers in a range of between 4-8 fingers,with each finger being in substantial radial alignment with thecurvature of a finger disposed opposite thereto.
 4. A toy ball launchingand retrieving device as defined in claim 3 wherein said common base hasa concave curvature so that each ball engaging and releasing member incombination with the curvature of said common base forms a partialspherical space for engaging a ball which will make contact with thecurved surface of the common base when the ball is engaged.
 5. A toyball launching and retrieving device as defined in claim 4 consisting ofsix fingers.
 6. A toy ball launching and retrieving device as defined inclaim 4 wherein the ball engaging member and the handle are composed ofa relatively soft plastic composition.
 7. A toy ball launching andretrieving device as defined in claim 6 wherein the fingers aregraduated in length such that the fingers which lie in substantialradial alignment include one finger of long length and a second fingerof shorter length.
 8. A toy ball launching and retrieving device asdefined in claim 7 wherein the ball engaging member and handle arecomposed of vinyl.
 9. A toy ball launching and retrieving device asdefined in claim 7 wherein the handle is a single straight member.
 10. Atoy ball launching and retrieving device as defined in claim 7 whereinthe handle comprises a curved center section and two straight sectionsextending from opposite ends of the curved center section.
 11. A toyball launching and retrieving device as defined in claim 10 wherein thecenter section has a curvature causing the two straight sections to bealigned in parallel with respect to each other.
 12. A toy ball launchingand retrieving device as defined in claim 7 wherein two of the fingerslying adjacent to the longest finger are substantially of the samelength and two of the fingers lying adjacent to the shortest finger aresubstantially of the same length.
 13. A toy ball launching andretrieving device as defined in claim 7 wherein the two fingers lyingadjacent to the shortest finger are aligned on an axis which intersectsthe axis of the shortest finger.
 14. A toy ball launching and retrievingdevice as defined in claim 1 wherein each ball engaging and releasingmember is oriented so that the fingers are oriented in an opposingrelationship at each end of the device.
 15. A toy ball launching andretrieving device as defined in claim 14 wherein the fingers at eachopposing end of the device are oriented substantially 180° apart.
 16. Atoy ball launching and retrieving device as defined in claim 3 whereineach ball engaging and releasing member is oriented so that the fingersare oriented in an opposing relationship at each end of the device. 17.A toy ball launching and retrieving device as defined in claim 6 whereinthe fingers at each opposing end of the device are orientedsubstantially 180° apart.